Not as busy as one would hope, there were only 11 games at stake on Saturday night. Former Islanders had their hands full in some of them. FIs contributed 1 goal, 9 assists and a win netside. Let us look at their contributions:
* Stephen Valiquette, yes!, Valiquette recorded a win for the New York Rangers on Saturday as they downed the host Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in the shootout. Valiquette stopped 32 of 34 shots and was perfect against 2 in SO to notch his first win of the season. With the win, Valiquette notched his first since March 3, 2006 in the only starting appearance he with the Blueshirts in 3 games played. He improved his career record to 5-3-0.
* There was a flurry of FI action as the Tampa Bay Lightning downed the host Washington Capitals 5-2. Tom Poti, recently returned from injury, provided 2 assists to improve to 4 points (all assists) on 11 games this season. The assists ended a 5 game pointless streak. Viktor Kozlov was also credited with an assist on the second Caps goal. Kozzer has 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists) on 17 games this season and is in the midst of a 3 game point streak in which he has scored 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points. As well, FI defenseman Brad Lukowich received the secondary assist on the game winning goal. Luko has 3 points on 1 goal and 2 assists on 17 games.
* Zdeno Chara has been wobbly offensively as of late. He finally cracked some of that shell with an assist on the game winner in Boston's 2-1 win over the visiting Buffalo Sabres. Bruins' captain Chara upped his numbers to 7 points (all assists) on the season. Chara has not scored a goal for 22 straight games dating back to last year.
* Teammate FIs Robert Nilsson and Dick Tarnstrom helped power a 4-2 Edmonton win over the host Calgary Flames. Oilers' forward Nilsson scored his first of the year, a powerplay goal, and added an assist for his first multi-point night since April 8, 2006. Nilsson now has 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) on 9 games this season. Defenseman Tarnstrom was credited with 2 assists including 1 on the man advantage for his first multi-point night since March 3, 2006. In 14 games, Tarnstrom has 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points.
* The Los Angeles Kings survived a last minute comeback by the Dallas Stars on Saturday to pull out a 6-5 OT win at home. FI Derek Armstrong assisted on the third of 5 straight Kings' goals. Armstrong has yet to hit his stride or hit the net in 16 games this year scoring only 7 assists despite taking 24 shots on goal. Armstrong is an enigma for a Kings team that pinpointed him as an offensive necessity in the postseason.
Check back soon for all the nightly recaps here at FIW.
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